Toy blocks dimensioned and configured for plural connections

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to toy building brick of rectangular cross-section 2a X a and any arbitrary length X X a. These bricks are characterized by n cube-shaped openings of the volume a X a X a between the two broad sides 2a X Xa. The bricks are also characterized by (n-1) webs of the cross-section a X a/2 remaining between these openings. The bricks are also characterized by 2 cross bars of the cross-section a X a/2 and the length (n + n-1/2)a, n being a whole number of at least 2.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,838,535

Larws Oct. 1, 1974 [54] TOY BLOCKS DIMENSIONED AND 2,747,325 5/1956Kutscha 46/23 X CONFIGURED O PLURAL 3,449,857 6/1969 DeChristopher 46/25CONNECTIONS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [76] Inventor: Peter Larws,Stettiner Strasse 35, 255,912 11/1927 Italy 52/606 638 Bad Homburg,Germany Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay [22] Flled' 1972 Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Littlepage, Quaintance, [21] Appl. No.: 312,988 Murphy & Dobyns[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Dec. 14, 1971Germany 2161913 The invention relates to toy building brick ofrectangular cross-section 2a X a and any arbitrary length X 52] US. Cl46/25, 52/593, 52/606, X These bricks are Characterized by Cube-Shaped52 09 openings of the volume a X a X a between the two [51] Int. Cl A63h33/08 broad Sides X The bricks am also Characterized 58 Field of Search46/25, 28, 23; 52/606, y webs Of the Cross-Section a X l remaining52/609 503 between these openings. The bricks are also characterized by2 cross bars of the cross-section a X a/2 and [56] References Ci thelength (n n1/2)a, n being a whole number of at UNITED STATES PATENTSleast 1,894,605 1/1933 Wright 46/25 5 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures G n 26G 2 (1+ 2 G f/L till; UI 35:] l

1 21 w l 1 25 6 1 r; (\J 27% 46 l l 5 L 2 1* l T PATENTED BUT 1 I974snmw Fig.10

Fig.9

Fig.8

Emma our 1 m4 Fig.16

TOY BLOCKS DIMENSIONED AND CONFIGURED FOR PLURAL CONNECTIONS Theinvention relates to a toy building brick from which it is possible toconstruct a wide variety ofdifferent objects by fitting togetheridentical building bricks.

Many different types of building bricks are known. from which objectscan be constructed by fitting them together. The method of building withthe known bricks, however, requires either a plurality of complicatedconnecting elements (German Gebrauchsmuster Pat. No. 1,954,832) orpermits only quite simple representations of a certain group of patents(German Pat. No. 825,518 and French Pat. No. 1,183,331) or permits onlypartially positive connections of the separate building bricks (US. Pat.No. 2,147,237).

Other known building bricks also do not fit together with tight jointsin the three spatial planes, so that at most it is only possible tobuild in two planes at rightangles. Furthermore, the construction ofselfsupporting space lattices is either impossible with these buildingbricks (See German Gebrauchsmuster Pat. No. 1,985,950) or can only beachieved by complicated additional elements.

The object of the present invention is a building brick for a universalsystem of playing, which fulfills the following three preliminaryconditions:

1. The external dimensions of the building brick are to conform to thefollowing ratios: the length is to be equal to twice the width and thewidth is to be equal to twice the thickness of the building brick, sothat a maximum of possibilities of combinations are provided. By varyingthe length with a constant width-thickness ra tio, the possible numberof the combinations can be further modified;

2. Two building bricks must be able to be held together with a tightjoint by a third in a positive manner in preferably two but at least onestressing direction;

3. In order to provide even more possibilities of combinations for thebuilding brick and more especially to permit the fitting of axles whichcarry wheels. the openings and recesses on the building brick. which arenecessary according to Point 2, in addition permit the insertion of rodsof any desired legnth and of circular or square cross-section with thesame thickness in at least two planes of the building brick, and allside surfaces of the building brick should be an even multiple of thisthickness.

This object is achieved according to the invention with a building brickwhich has a rectangular crosssection 2a X a and an arbitrary length X Xa, a being any arbitrary length unit, and which is characterized by:

a n cube-shaped openings of the volume a X a X a between the two broadsides 2a X Xa;

b. (n-l) webs of the cross-section a X a/2 remaining between theseopenings, and

c. 2 cross bars of the cross-section a X a/2 and the length (n n-l/Z) a,n being a whole number of at least 2 and preferably at least 3 andideally equals 3.

The length of the building brick is preferably 4a, i.e., the brick istwice as long as it is wide and twice as wide as it is thick.

In addition to the cube-shaped openings a X a X a, also other recessescan be provided on the webs and cross bars; for example, in accordancewith one constructional form of the invention. at least 2 webs on thesame broad side 2a X Xu of the building brick are reduced to the heightofthe longitudinal axis of the brick. i.e., to the cross-section a/2 X(1/2. or in accordance with another constructional form of theinvention. at least between 2 webs. at least one of the 2 cross bars canbe reduced to the height of the longitudinal axis of the brick. i.e., tothe cross-section (1/2 X (1/2, or such reccsses can be provided both onthe webs and on the cross bars.

The invention is more fully explained by the drawings. in which'.

FIG. 7 shows a preferred building brick 10 of the invention with thelength 4a and in the normal form. i.e.. without additional recesses. Thebrick comprises cross bars ll, 12 and webs l3, 14.

FIGS. 2 to 10 shows some possibilities of, combinations of the brick ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 11 shows a modified building brick 16 in which recesses areprovided on the two webs 17, 18, which recesses extend from the broadside 2a X 4a to the height of the longitudinal axis of the brick. sothat these webs are reduced to the cross-section (1/2 X a/Z: The brick16 has cross bars 19, 20;

FIGS. 12 to 15 show possible combinations withsuch building bricksaccording to FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 shows a modified brick 23 in which recesses are arranged betweenthe webs 24, 25 on the cross bars 26, 27, which recesses extend from thebroad side 2a X 4a of the building brick to the height of the.longitudinal axis of the brick. so that the cross bars 24-, 25 arereduced at this position to the cross-sectiona/Z X a/2;

FIG. 17 shows a possibility of combinations when using bricks accordingto FIG. 16, and

FIG. 18 shows a modified building brick 30 which has the features of thebrick l6 and the brick 2 3.

Although the invention has been described in considerabledetail withreference to certain preferred embodiments thereof. it will beunderstoodthat variations and modifications can be effected within thespirit and scope of the invention as described above and as defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A set of toy building bricks of rectangular crosssection 2a by a andany arbitrary length Xa, characterized by:-

a. n cube-shaped openings of the volume a by a by 11 opening through thetwo broad sides having the dimensions 2a by Xa;

b. (n-l) webs of the cross-section a by 0/2, one of said webs remainingbetween adjacent ones of said openings. and

c. 2 cross bars of the cross-section a by (1/2; andthe length (n+ n-l/2)a, n being a whole number of at least 2, a plurality of said bricksbeing shaped and proportioned so that the ends of crosslbarsof twobricks of said plurality will fit into one of said'openings of a thirdbrick of said plurality to serve as connecting means therefor.

2. A set of bricks according to claim 1 characterized in that at least 2webs on the same broad side 2a by. Xa of the building brick are reducedto.the height of the longitudinal axis of the building brick, i.e.,tothe crosssection a/2 by a/2.

3. A set of bricks according to claim 1, characterized in that at leastone of the two cross bars, at least be- 3 4 tween two webs, is reducedto the height of the longituwherein: dinal axis of the building brick,i.e., to the cross-section a has any value a/Z by a/2. n is an integerat least equal to 3.

4. A set of bricks according to claim 1 characterized b. (nl) websconnecting facing surfaces of the first in that n has the value 3. 5 andsecond cross bars wherein said webs and said 5. A set of toy buildingbricks of rectangular crosscross bars define cube-shaped openings ofheight a section 2a by a and any arbitrary length Xa. compriswidth a andlength a ing: c. n cube-shaped openings of the volume a by a by a a.first and second cross bars having a cross section opening through thetwo broad sides having the dia by 0/2 and a length Xa wherein: it)mensions 2a by Xa. Xa=(n+n-l/2)a UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARKOFFICE PATENT NO.

DATED |NV,ENTOR(S) It is certified that error appe are hereby correctedAt the CERTIFICATE OF C 3,838,535 Oct. 1, 1974 PETER LARWS CORRECTIONend of the Abstract, in Column 1, Line 60;

and in Column 2, Line 56; and in Column 3, Line 10,

delete (n In Column 2 at Line 13 for "FIG. 7" read --FIG. l--.

smu

Signed and Scakd this Day 0" June I983 GERALD J. MOSSINGHOFF ArrestingOfficer Commissioner of Pamm and Trademarks

1. A set of toy building bricks of rectangular cross-section 2a by a andany arbitrary length Xa, characterized by: a. n cube-shaped openings ofthe volume a by a by a opening through the two broad sides having thedimensions 2a by Xa; b. (n-1) webs of the cross-section a by a/2, one ofsaid webs remaining between adjacent ones of said openings, and c. 2cross bars of the cross-section a by a/2 and the length (n+ n-1/2) a, nbeing a whole number of at least 2, a plurality of said bricks beingshaped and proportioned so that the ends of cross bars of two bricks ofsaid plurality will fit into one of said openings of a third brick ofsaid plurality to serve as connecting means therefor.
 2. A set of bricksaccording to claim 1, characterized in that at least 2 webs on the samebroad side 2a by Xa of the building brick are reduced to the height ofthe longitudinal axis of the building brick, i.e., to the cross-sectiona/2 by a/2.
 3. A set of bricks according to claim 1, characterized inthat at least one of the two cross bars, at leasT between two webs, isreduced to the height of the longitudinal axis of the building brick,i.e., to the cross-section a/2 by a/2.
 4. A set of bricks according toclaim 1 characterized in that n has the value
 3. 5. A set of toybuilding bricks of rectangular cross-section 2a by a and any arbitrarylength Xa, comprising: a. first and second cross bars having a crosssection a by a/2 and a length Xa wherein: Xa (n + n-1/2)a wherein: a hasany value. n is an integer at least equal to 3, b. (n-1) webs connectingfacing surfaces of the first and second cross bars wherein said webs andsaid cross bars define cube-shaped openings of height a, width a andlength a c. n cube-shaped openings of the volume a by a by a openingthrough the two broad sides having the dimensions 2a by Xa.